Stories from Thursday, June 23, 2011

My summer started out just as expected. My washing machine overflowed and drenched the padding in the sunroom. I had to manually soak up what I could, then leave a fan running for hours to dry things out. Turns out, I had my purse on my arm and was just going out the back door when I noticed water on the floor...

We all realize that the downtown areas of communities, both large and small, have experienced stress (to say the least) as a result of economic changes over the years. Most of us remember the vibrant atmosphere that existed in downtown areas in years past as the businesses located there were the focus of commercial life...

Sandra Jean Smith, 61, died June 8, 2011, at her home in Las Cruces, N. Mex. She was born Feb. 24, 1950, in Piggott to the late Bert Loyd and Jerrylene (Watson) Ivester. She was married to John Elmer Smith. They were divorced, but remained good friends...

James Oscar Myres, 44, of Rector, died Tuesday, June 14, 2011, at the Arkansas Methodist Medical Center in Paragould. Born Dec. 30, 1966, in Piggott, he was the son of Mr. James and Dorothy White Myres and had been a longtime area resident. Mr. Myres was employed by the Roy Owens Construction Company, who valued him as an excellent employee, and enjoyed spending time and taking care of his family...

Ray A. Williams, son of the late W.F. Williams and Evaline (Brashers) Williams, was born Dec. 1, 1929, in Kennett, Mo., and departed this life on June 18, 2011, at the age of 81 years six months and 17 days. Ray was married to Betty Poole for 46 years. She preceded him in death. Ray has been married to Peggy Wilson for the past eight years...

Reba Cathern Mode, 73, of Paragould passed from this life on June 20, 2011, at the Arkansas Hospice Center in Little Rock, Ark. She was born Dec. 16, 1937, to the late Clarence and Maudie (Pinkston) Simpson at Boydsville, Ark. She worked as a nurse at the Rector Medical Clinic and Paragould Doctors Clinic for 16 years...

James Dallas Fry, 71, of Campbell, Mo., passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2011, at his residence. Dallas was born March 7, 1940, in Piggott, and was the son of Johnny and Hazel Reagan Fry. He was first married to Geanetta Fry. He later married Sharon Moore Fry on April 1, 1990, in Campbell...

Carol L. Higgins, 52, of Piggott, passed away Saturday, June 18, 2011, at the Piggott Community Hospital. She was born Sept. 10, 1958, in St. Francis, and was the daughter of the late Lester and Mildred Bell Beaver. She was united in marriage to George Higgins on June 17, 1983...

Nellie Gossett, 88, of Piggott, Ark., passed away Monday, June 20, 2011, in the General Baptist Nursing Home in Campbell, Mo. She was born on April 15, 1923, in Piggott, and was the daughter of the late Glen and Hattie Fields Campbell. She was united in marriage to Marion Gossett on Sept. 18, 1940, and he preceded her in death in 1987...

Patrick Patterson has always enjoyed going to school. From his first day of kindergarten, the 2011 Piggott High School graduate understood he was supposed to be in class and took every step possible to be there. With a dedication not commonly seen, plus some good fortune, Patterson accomplished the unique feat of maintaining perfect attendance throughout his entire enrollment in the Piggott School District, having no absences in grades K-12...

Family, friends and others offering support gathered Tuesday, June 14, to celebrate with the David and Karen Cagle family for their recognition as the 2011 Clay County Farm Family of the Year. The Cagles welcomed the many visitors to their home, located approximately five miles northeast of Rector...

Barbara Collier's name has become synonymous with Clay County 4-H. Collier has worked with the county agency, first as a volunteer exclusively, then as 4-H program assistant as part of the University of Arkansas County Cooperative Extension Agency. After 15 years to the day in her position with the Extension office, Collier celebrated her retirement with co-workers, friends and family on Friday, June 17...

A stunning bronzed statue of a World War II soldier, appropriately titled "Honor," now stands proudly atop a native Arkansas boulder in Rector's Veterans Memorial Park, now under construction on Main Street just south of the city's new Visitors Center...

Piggott High School tennis coach Paul Seegraves held a free tennis clinic for kids in the first through fourth grades June 9, 10 and 11 at the municipal courts. A total of 20 kids took part in the clinic, including Braden Taylor, Natalie Blake, Wesley Childers, Jacy Featherston, Kirsten Smith, Brandon Palmer, Michael Palmer, Dustin McCarty, Brooke Roberts, Macey Williams, Madison Rahn, Emma Wellborn, Tyson Peters, Katelyn Robertson, Shawn-Hudson Seegraves, Brooke Shipley, Aden Baggett, Garrick Crawford and Gage Parks.. ...

Legendary Piggott athlete Gary Adams will be one of 10 University of Arkansas alumni inducted into the school's Hall of Honor during a special ceremony Friday, Sept. 2 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center at the Springdale Holiday Inn. Adams, a 1965 PHS graduate, lettered for the Razorback football team from 1966 through 1968 and was an All-Southwest Conference selection each of those three seasons. ...